Northeast Creek

Land that drains into Northeast Creek is known as its watershed. The Northeast Creek watershed includes a large portion of Research Triangle Park and neighborhoods such as Parkwood, Oakmont Circle, and Robinwood. The lower part of the watershed contains large natural areas like the game lands associated with Jordan Lake.

Water from Northeast Creek flows into Jordan Lake. From there it flows into the Haw River and then to the Cape Fear River. This river is the only one in North Carolina that empties directly into the Atlantic Ocean.

Water Quality

The health and cleanliness of the watershed is reported in Durham’s annual State of Our Streams Report. In years when staff is able to take a wide variety of tests, the watershed is also given a score. Northeast Creek was last given a score of 71 in 2016. This compares to a "C" letter grade. This is down from a 77 in 2014. This grade was given because of high fecal coliform (a bacteria associated with raw sewage) levels, high turbidity, and poor aquatic life.

Water from Northeast Creek flows into Jordan Lake. Jordan Lake has recently had problems with algae caused by extra nutrients (such as nitrogen and phosphorus). The State has created guidelines, also called a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) (PDF), to help reduce the nutrients in the lake. Because of this, the City also carefully tracks nutrients in Northeast Creek.

These water quality concerns keep Northeast Creek from its intended uses by people and wildlife. The State added the creek to a list of impaired water bodies, also known as the 303(d) list. This means the City takes extra steps to find and reduce sources of pollution in the creek. The State also created a TMDL (PDF) to help reduce the fecal coliform in the creek.

Water Quality Investigations

In the 2015-2016 reporting year, staff found 15 pollution sources. These included:

grease/cooking oil/food

sediment

sewage

yard waste

paint

Stormwater Services encourages neighbors to discuss and discourage putting trash, wash water, grease, or other pollution into storm drains. Anything that goes into storm drains does not get treated and, in this watershed, eventually washes into Northeast Creek. Residents can also call the Stormwater Hotline (919-560-SWIM) to report water pollution.

Dog Waste Stations

The city was awarded a grant to install 20 dog waste stations in Durham parks. There are two in the Northeast Creek Watershed in the C.M. Herndon and Bethesda parks.

Residential Rain Garden Project

Stormwater Services received a grant to install 40 residential rain gardens in the City. 16 were installed in the Northeast Creek watershed in the summer and fall of 2011. These rain gardens capture runoff and help clean up pollution.

Northeast Creek Metals Study

This study looked at how much and where metals are in Northeast Creek. Staff found unsafe levels of copper, cadmium, and nickel in the creek. Zinc levels were safe.

Watershed Improvement Plan

Stormwater Services completed the watershed improvement plan in 2012. This involved assessing over 200 stormwater control measures and over 60 stream miles to identify new and potential improvements for stormwater retrofits. Learn more about this improvement plan.

Water Quality Recovery Program

The Water Quality Recovery Program (WQRP) for Northeast Creek carries out the state fecal coliform Total Maximum Daily Load (PDF). The city prepared this plan in 2009 and submitted it to the N.C. Division of Water Quality. The city will submit updates with the annual NPDES permit report starting in 2010. Water from Northeast Creek flows into Jordan Lake. Because Jordan Lake has a TMDL for nutrients (PDF) (like nitrogen and phosphorus), the WQRP for Northeast Creek also tracks nutrients.

Get Involved

There are many ways for you to help protect the health of Northeast Creek. You can adopt a portion of the creek or volunteer to label storm drains. There are also 2 major stream clean-ups each year. Big Sweep is the 1st weekend in October and Creek Week is the last weekend in March. Email the public education coordinator for details.